Liquid hard-surface cleaning compositions based on specific dicapped polyalkylene glycols

ABSTRACT

Liquid hard-surface cleaning compositions are disclosed which comprise particular dicapped polyalkoxylene glycols. These compositions provide excellent next-time cleaning performance on hard-surfaces soiled by various soils, especially greasy type soils and/or burnt/sticky food residues typically found in a kitchen.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to liquid compositions for cleaninghard-surfaces.

BACKGROUND

Liquid compositions for cleaning hard-surfaces have been disclosed inthe art. Much of the focus for such compositions has been on providingoutstanding cleaning on a variety of soils and surfaces. However, suchcompositions are not fully satisfactory from a consumer viewpointespecially regarding the soil release properties imparted to thehard-surfaces treated therewith. Indeed, consumers are looking forliquid cleaning compositions that would render a hard surface firsttreated therewith less prone to soil adherence and thus facilitatenext-time (subsequent) cleaning operation.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to formulate a liquidcleaning composition for removal of various soils from hard-surfacesthat will facilitate the next-time cleaning operation.

It has now been found that the next-time cleaning performance isimproved when a hard-surface has first been treated with a liquidcomposition comprising a particular antiresoiling ingredient, namely adicapped polyalkoxylene glycol of the formula R₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—R₃,wherein the substituents R₁ and R₃ each independently are substituted orunsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbonchains having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or amino bearing linear orbranched, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chains having from 1to 30 carbon atoms, R₂ is hydrogen or a linear or branched hydrocarbonchain having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and wherein n is an integergreater than 0. Indeed, it has surprisingly been found that the use ofsuch a dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol, in a liquid composition, providesimproved next-time cleaning performance on a hard-surface first treatedtherewith at low total level of antiresoiling ingredients. Thus, in itsbroadest aspect, the present invention encompasses the use of a dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycol as defined herein, in a liquid composition, toinhibit adherence of soils on a hard-surface after the surface has beenfirst treated with the composition, thereby facilitating the removal ofthe soils from the surface on next-time cleaning. The present inventionalso encompasses liquid cleaning compositions with particular dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycols as defined herein after.

An advantage of the present invention is that the next-time cleaningperformance is obtained according to the present invention on varioustypes of stains/soils including typical greasy stains like kitchengrease, and burnt/sticky food residues like burnt milk stains, typicallyfound in a kitchen. Furthermore, another advantage of the presentinvention is that the next-time cleaning benefit is obtained by using abiodegradable and cost efficient antiresoiling ingredient.

Another advantage of the liquid compositions of the present invention isthat not only next-time cleaning performance is improved but that alsogood first time cleaning performance is delivered, as well as goodsurface appearance after cleaning.

Yet another advantage is that the liquid compositions according to thepresent invention may be used to clean hard-surfaces made of a varietyof materials like glazed and non-glazed ceramic tiles, vinyl, no-waxvinyl, linoleum, melamine, glass, plastics, plastified wood, metallicsurfaces, both in neat and diluted conditions, e.g., up to a dilutionlevel of 1 200 (composition:water).

The following patent applications are representative of the prior art:

EP-A-374 471 discloses liquid hard-surface cleaning compositions whichare formulated to leave on the surface treated a protective barrierlayer which serves to protect the surface against further soildeposition. These compositions comprise a polyethylene glycolalkylphenyl ether, lecithin and an aminofunctional polydimethylsiloxanecopolymer as a protective barrier compound and one or more glycols. Nodicapped polyalkoxylene glycols as defined in the present invention aredisclosed.

EP-A-635 567 discloses liquid compositions for cleaning solid surfacescomprising a cleaning agent capable of being deposited on the surfaceduring cleaning and of forming a dried layer adhered to the surface,said layer having a cohesive strength such that at least outermostsurface portion of the layer is removable by further washing.Polyvinylpyrrolidone is disclosed. No dicapped polyalkoxylene glycols asdefined in the present invention are disclosed.

EP-A-379 256 discloses acidic hard surface compositions (pH 2-4)comprising different cleaning ingredients amongst which polybeta methyldiethyl ammonium ethyl methacrylate methyl sulfate (MDAEM). Secondarycleaning benefit is expressly mentioned. No dicapped polyalkoxyleneglycols as defined in the present invention are disclosed.

EP-A-326 795 discloses the use of polyethylenglycolether of the formulaR₁—O—(CH₂—CH_(2—O)) _(n)—R₂, wherein R₁ is linear or branched alkyl- oralkenyl group of 20 to 28 carbon atoms, R₂ is an alkyl group of 4 to 8carbon atoms and n is from 6 to 20, as a foam reducing agent, in adetergent formula.

European patent application number 96870070.8 discloses a cleaningcomposition comprising a hypochlorite bleaching component, ahypochlorite compatible surfactant and a nonionic surfactant having theformula R1(OR2)_(n)OR3, wherein R₁ is a C8-C18 linear or branched alkylor alkenyl group, aryl group, alkaryl group, R2is a C2-C10 linear orbranched alkyl group, R3 is a C1-C10 alkyl or alkenyl group and n is aninteger ranging in the range of from 1 to 20.

Actually, the next-time cleaning performance benefit associated to adicapped polyalkoxylene glycol as defined herein has not beenacknowledged in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses the use of a dicapped polyalkoxyleneglycol of the formula R₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—R₃, wherein the substituentsR₁ and R₃ each independently are substituted or unsubstituted, saturatedor unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to30 carbon atoms, or amino bearing linear or branched, substituted orunsubstituted hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, R₂ ishydrogen or a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, and wherein n is an integer greater than 0, in a liquidcomposition, to inhibit adherence of soils on a hard-surface after saidsurface has been first treated with said composition, therebyfacilitating the removal of said soils from said surface on next-timecleaning.

The present invention also encompasses a liquid hard-surface cleaningcomposition comprising a dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol of the formulaR₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—R₃, wherein the substituents R₁ and R₃ eachindependently are substituted or unsubstituted, saturated orunsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, or amino bearing linear or branched, substituted orunsubstituted hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, R₂ ishydrogen or a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, and wherein n is an integer greater than 0, with theproviso that when both the substituents R₁ and R₃ each independently aresubstituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear orbranched hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms and R₂ ishydrogen or a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, then n is greater than 20.

The present invention further encompasses a process of cleaninghard-surfaces wherein a liquid composition as defined herein above, iscontacted with said surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In its broadest embodiment, the present invention encompasses the use ofa dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol as defined herein, in a liquidcomposition, to inhibit adherence of soils on a hard-surface after saidsurface has been first treated with said composition, therebyfacilitating the removal of soils from said surface on next-timecleaning.

By “treated”, it is meant herein that the hard-surface has beencontacted with said liquid composition either in its neat or dilutedform, optionally rinsed, and left to dry at ambiant temperature, ordried by any conventional means, e.g. a towel.

An essential ingredient of the present invention is a dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycol or mixture thereof as defined herein after.Typically, such a dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol or mixture thereof isused in a liquid composition at a level of from 0.001% to 20% by weightof the total composition, preferably from 0.01% to 5%, more preferablyfrom 0.1% to 4% and most preferably from 0.2% to 3%.

Suitable dicapped polyalkoxylene glycols to be used herein are accordingto the formula R₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—R₃, wherein the substituents R₁ andR₃ each independently are substituted or unsubstituted, saturated orunsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, or amino bearing linear or branched, substituted orunsubstituted hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, R₂ ishydrogen or a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, and wherein n is an integer greater than 0.

Typically R₁ and R₃ each independently are substituted or unsubstituted,saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl groups, alkenylgroups or aryl groups having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably from1 to 16, more preferably from 1 to 8 and most preferably from 1 to 4, oramino bearing linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkylgroups, alkenyl groups or aryl groups having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms,more preferably from 1 to 16, even more preferably from 1 to 8 and mostpreferably from 1 to 4. Typically R₂ is hydrogen, or a linear orbranched alkyl group, alkenyl group or aryl group having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 16, more preferably from 1 to 8, andmost preferably is methyl, or hydrogen. Preferably n is an integer above20, more preferably above 30 up to 70, even more preferably from 32 to60 and most preferably from 35 to 50.

The preferred dicapped polyalkoxylene glycols to be used according tothe present invention have a molecular weight of at least 200,preferably from 400 to 5000, more preferably from 800 to 3000 and mostpreferably from 1500 to 2500.

Particularly suitable dicapped polyalkoxylene glycols to be used hereininclude O,O′-bis(2-aminopropyl)polyethylene glycol (MW 2000),O,O′-bis(2-aminopropyl)polyethylene glycol (MW 400), O,O′-dimethylpolyethylene glycol (MW 2000), dimethyl polyethylene glycol (MW 2000),or mixtures thereof.

Preferred dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol for use herein is dimethylpolyethylene glycol (MW 2000).

For instance, dimethyl polyethylene glycol may be commercially availablefrom Hoescht as the polyglycol series, e.g. PEG DME-2000®, or fromHuntsman under the name Jeffamine® and XTJ®.

In the embodiment of the present invention wherein the dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycol is an amino dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol it ispreferred for cleaning performance reasons to formulate the liquidcompositions comprising it at a pH equal or lower than the pKa of saidamino dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol. Indeed, it has been found that thenext-time cleaning performance is especially improved at those pHs whenthe compositions used according to the present invention comprise suchan amino dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol, as the dicapped polyalkoxyleneglycol.

The non-amino dicapped polyalkoxylene glycols, as defined herein are pHindependent, i.e., the pH of the composition has no influence on thenext-time cleaning performance delivered by a composition comprisingsuch a non-amino dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol, as the dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycol.

By “amino dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol”, it is meant herein a dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycol according to the formula R₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—R₃,wherein substituents R₁, R₂, R₃ and n are as defined herein before, andwherein at least substituent R₁ or R₃ is an amino bearing linear orbranched, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chain of from 1 to 30carbon atoms.

By “non-amino dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol”, it is meant herein adicapped polyalkoxylene glycol according to the formulaR₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—R₃, wherein substituents R₁, R₂, R₃ and n are asdefined herein before, and wherein none of the substituents R₁ or R₃ isan amino bearing linear or branched, substituted or unsubstitutedhydrocarbon chain of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

The present invention is based on the finding that the use of such adicapped polyalkoxylene glycol, in a liquid hard-surface cleaningcomposition, provides improved next-time cleaning performance when ahard-surface has been first treated with said composition. Indeed, ithas surprisingly been found that dicapping a polyalkoxylene glycolimparts improved antisoiling properties to such a compound, as comparedto the corresponding non-capped polyalkoxylene glycol, or non-cappedpolyalkoxylene glycol of equal molecular weight.

Although not wishing to be bound by theory, it is speculated that thedicapped polyalkoxylene glycols as defined herein have in common theproperty of adsorbing to a hard-surface being first treated therewith,in such a manner that a hygroscopic layer is left behind. The resultinghygroscopic layer can attract and retain ambient atmospheric water vaporto more effectively reduce adhesion of soils once treated and thusfacilitate removal of said soils subsequently deposited thereon, i.e.less work (e.g. less scrubbing and/or wiping and/or less chemicalaction) is required to remove the soils in the next-time cleaningoperation, as compared to a similar soiled hard-surface which has beenfirst treated with the same compositions without said dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycol.

Furthermore, it has surprisingly been found that this next-time cleaningbenefit can be obtained at low total level of antiresoiling ingredients.Thus, in a preferred embodiment the compositions herein comprise from0.2% to 2% by weight of the total composition of the dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycol or a mixture thereof, preferably from 0.5% to 2%,and more preferably from 0.5% to 1%.

An advantage of the compositions of the present invention is that goodfirst time cleaning performance is also obtained, as well as a goodsurface appearance after cleaning.

By “cleaning performance”, it is meant herein cleaning on various typesof soils including greasy soils like kitchen grease and/or burnt/stickyfood residues typically found in a kitchen (e.g., burnt milk). Thenext-time cleaning benefit is particularly noticeable on greasy soils.

The first time dilute cleaning performance may be evaluated by thefollowing test method: Tiles of enamel, vinyl or ceramic are prepared byapplying to them a representative grease/particulate artificial soil,followed by aging. The test compositions and the reference compositionare diluted (e.g., composition:water 1:50 or 1:100), applied to asponge, and used to clean the tiles with a Sheen scrub tester. Thenumber of strokes required to clean to 100% clean is recorded. A minimumof 6 replicates can be taken with each result being generated induplicate against the reference on each soiled tile.

The next-time dilute cleaning performance may be evaluated by thefollowing test method: Following the procedure detailed for first timecleaning the tiles used for this previous test are taken and resoileddirectly without first being further washed or rinsed. The cleaningprocedure is then repeated using the Sheen scrub tester, taking carethat the test compositions are used to clean the same part of the tileas was previously cleaned by them. The number of strokes required toclean to 100% clean is recorded. A minimum of 6 replicates can be takenwith each result being generated in duplicate against the reference oneach soiled tile. This resoiling and cleaning procedure can be repeatedup to 5 times.

The test method for evaluating neat cleaning performance is identical toabove except that the test compositions and reference are used undilutedand that after cleaning a rinsing cycle is performed with clean water.This rinsing cycle may be repeated up to 5 times prior to the resoilingstep for next time cleaning evaluation.

The liquid compositions used according to the present inventionpreferably are aqueous compositions comprising different optionalingredients as defined herein after.

The Liquid Compositions:

The compositions according to the present invention particularlysuitable for the cleaning of a hard-surface, are liquid compositions.The liquid compositions of the present invention are preferably, but notnecessarily formulated as aqueous compositions. Aqueous compositionstypically comprise from 50% to 99% by weight of the total composition ofwater, preferably from 60% to 95%, and more preferably from 80% to 95%.

The liquid compositions herein may be formulated in the full pH range of0 to 14, preferably 1 to 13. Typically, the compositions herein areformulated in a neutral to highly alkaline pH range from 7 to 13,preferably from 9 to 11 and more preferably from 9.5 to 11. The pH ofthe compositions herein can be adjusted by any of the means well-knownto those skilled in the art such as acidifying agents like organic orinorganic acids, or alkalinising agents like NaOH, KOH, K2CO3, Na2CO3and the like. Preferred organic acids for use herein have a pk of lessthan 6. Suitable organic acids are selected from the group consisting ofcitric acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acidand adipic acid and mixtures thereof. A mixture of said acids may becommercially available from BASF under the trade name Sokalan® DCS.

As an essential ingredient the liquid compositions herein comprise adicapped polyalkoxylene glycol or mixtures thereof.

Suitable dicapped polyalkoxylene glycols to be used in the compositionsof the present invention have the formula

R₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—R₃

wherein the substituents R₁ and R₃ each independently are substituted orunsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbonchains having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or amino bearing linear orbranched, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chains having from 1to 30 carbon atoms,

R₂ is hydrogen or a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain having from 1to 30 carbon atoms, and wherein n is an integer greater than 0, with theproviso that when both the substituents R₁ and R₃ independently aresubstituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear orbranched hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms and R2ishydrogen or a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, then n is greater than 20.

Preferred dicapped polyalkoxylene glycols for use herein are asdescribed herein before.

The present invention is based on the finding that the liquidcompositions of the present invention comprising a dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycol as defined herein provide improved next-timecleaning performance when treating a hard-surface therewith, as comparedto the next-time cleaning performance delivered with the samecompositions, but without said antiresoiling ingredient or with anotherantiresoiling polymer like a poly-(trimethyl aminoethyl) methacrylate.

Optional Ingredients:

The liquid compositions according to the present invention may comprisea variety of optional ingredients depending on the technical benefitaimed for and the surface treated.

Suitable optional ingredients for use herein include surfactants,builders, chelants, polymers, solvents, buffers, bactericides,hydrotropes, colorants, stabilisers, radical scavengers, bleaches,bleach activators, sud controlling agents like fatty acids, enzymes,soil suspenders, dye transfer agents, brighteners, anti dusting agents,dispersants, dye transfer inhibitors, pigments, dyes and/or perfumes.

The liquid compositions of the present invention preferably comprise asurfactant, or mixtures thereof. Said surfactant may be present in thecompositions according to the present invention in amounts of from 0.1%to 50% by weight of the total composition, preferably of from 0.1% to20% and more preferably of from 1% to 10%.

Surfactants are desired herein as they further contribute to thecleaning performance and/or gloss benefit of the compositions of thepresent invention. Surfactants to be used herein include nonionicsurfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphotericsurfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

Particularly preferred surfactants are the nonionic surfactants.Suitable nonionic surfactants for use herein include a class ofcompounds which may be broadly defined as compounds produced by thecondensation of alkylene oxide groups (hydrophilic in nature) with anorganic hydrophobic compound, which may be branched or linear aliphatic(e.g. Guerbet or secondary alcohols) or alkyl aromatic in nature. Thelength of the hydrophilic or polyoxyalkylene radical which is condensedwith any particular hydrophobic group can be readily adjusted to yield awater-soluble compound having the desired degree of balance betweenhydrophilic and hydrophobic elements.

For example, a well-known class of nonionic synthetic detergents is madeavailable on the market under the trade name “Pluronic”. These compoundsare formed by condensing ethylene oxide with an hydrophobic base formedby the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. Thehydrophobic portion of the molecule which, of course, exhibitswater-insolubility has a molecular weight of from about 1500 to 1800.The addition of polyoxyethylene radicals to this hydrophobic portiontends to increase the water-solubility of the molecule as a whole andthe liquid character of the products is retained up to the point wherepolyoxyethylene content is about 50% of the total weight of thecondensation product.

Other suitable nonionic synthetic detergents include:

(i) The polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols, e.g., thecondensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containingfrom about 6 to 12 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branchedchain configuration, with ethylene oxide, the said ethylene oxide beingpresent in amounts equal to 10 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole ofalkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds may be derivedfrom polymerized propylene, diisobutylene, octane, and nonane;

(ii) Those derived from the condensation of ethylene oxide with theproduct resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine products which may be varied in composition depending upon thebalance between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements which isdesired.

Examples are compounds containing from about 40% to about 80%polyoxyethylene by weight and having a molecular weight of from about5000 to about 11000 resulting from the reaction of ethylene oxide groupswith a hydrophobic base constituted of the reaction product of ethylenediamine and excess propylene oxide, said base having a molecular weightof the order of 2500 to 3000;

(iii) The condensation product of aliphatic alcohols having from 8 to 18carbon atoms, in either straight chain or branched chain configuration,with ethylene oxide, e.g., a coconut alcohol ethylene oxide condensatehaving from 10 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of coconutalcohol, the coconut alcohol fraction having from 10 to 14 carbon atoms;

(iv) Trialkyl amine oxides and trialkyl phosphine oxides wherein onealkyl group ranges from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and two alkyl groups rangefrom 1 to 3 carbon atoms; the alkyl groups can contain hydroxysubstituents; specific examples are dodecyl di(2-hydroxyethyl)amineoxide and tetradecyl dimethyl phosphine oxide.

Also useful as a nonionic surfactant are the alkylpolysaccharidesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,647, Llenado, issued Jan. 21, 1986,having a hydrophobic group containing from about 6 to about 30 carbonatoms, preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms andpolysaccharide, e.g., a polyglycoside. hydrophilic group containing fromabout 1.3 to about 10, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, mostpreferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7 saccharide units. Any reducingsaccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g., glucose,galactose, and galactosyl moieties can be substituted for the glucosylmoieties. (Optionally the hydrophobic group is attached at the 2-, 3-,4-, etc. positions thus giving a glucose or galactose as opposed to aglucoside or galactoside.) The intersaccharide bonds can be, e.g.,between the one position of the additional saccharide units and the 2-,3-, 4-, and/or 6- positions of the preceding saccharide units.

Optionally, and less desirably, there can be a polyalkkyleneoxide chainjoining the hydrophobic moiety and the polysaccharide moiety. Thepreferred alkyleneoxide is ethylene oxide. Typical hydrophobic groupsinclude alkyl groups, either saturated or unsaturated, branched orunbranched containing from about 8 to about 18, preferably from about 10to about 16, carbon atoms. Preferably, the alkyl group can contain up toabout 3 hydroxy groups and/or the polyalkyleneoxide chain can contain upto about 10, preferably less than 5, alkyleneoxide moieties. Suitablealkyl polysaccharides are octyl, nonyldecyl, undecyldodecyl, tridecyl,tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, and octadecyl, di-, tri-,tetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides, galactosides, lactosides, glucoses,fructosides, fructoses and/or galactoses. Suitable mixtures includecoconut alkyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentaglucosides and tallow alkyltetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides.

The preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula:

R²O(C_(n)H_(2n)O)_(t)(glucosyl)_(x)

wherein R² is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl,hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which thealkyl groups contain from about 10 to about 18, preferably from about 12to about 14, carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3, preferably 2; t is from 0 toabout 10, preferably 0; and x is from about 1.3 to about 10, preferablyfrom about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7.The glycosyl is preferably derived from glucose. To prepare thesecompounds, the alcohol or alkylpolyethoxy alcohol is formed first andthen reacted with glucose, or a source of glucose, to form the glucoside(attachment at the 1-position). The additional glycosyl units can thenbe attached between their 1-position and the preceding glycosyl units2-, 3-, 4 and/or 6-position, preferably predominantly the 2- position.

Although not preferred, the condensation products of ethylene oxide witha hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide withpropylene glycol are also suitable for use herein. The hydrophobicportion of these compounds will preferably have a molecular weight offrom about 1500 to about 1800 and will exhibit water insolubility. Theaddition of polyoxyethylene moieties to this hydrophobic portion tendsto increase the water solubility of the molecule as a whole, and theliquid character of the product is retained up to the point where thepolyoxyethylene content is about 50% of the total weight of thecondensation product, which corresponds to condensation with up to about40 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of compounds of this type includecertain of the commercially available Pluronic™ surfactants, marketed byBASF.

Also not preferred, although suitable for use as nonionic surfactantsherein are the condensation products of ethylene oxide with the productresulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine. Thehydrophobic moiety of these products consists of the reaction product ofethylenediamine and excess propylene oxide, and generally has amolecular weight of from about 2500 to about 3000. This hydrophobicmoiety is condensed with ethylene oxide to the extent that thecondensation product contains from about 40% to about 80% by weight ofpolyoxyethylene and has a molecular weight of from about 5000 to about11000. Examples of this type of nonionic surfactant include certain ofthe commercially available Tetronic™ compounds, marketed by BASF.

Other suitable nonionic surfactants for use herein include polyhydroxyfatty acid amides of the structural formula

wherein: R¹ is H, C₁-C₄ hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl,or a mixture thereof, preferably C₁-C₄ alkyl, more preferably C₁ or C₂alkyl, most preferably C₁ alkyl (i.e., methyl); and R² is a C₅-C₃₁hydrocarbyl, preferably straight chain C₇-C₁₉ alkyl or alkenyl, morepreferably straight chain C₉-C₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl, most preferablystraight chain C₁₁-C₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl, or mixtures thereof; and Z is apolyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative(preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Z preferably will bederived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; morepreferably Z is a glycityl. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose,fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose. As rawmaterials, high dextrose corn syrup can be utilised as well as theindividual sugars listed above. These corn syrups may yield a mix ofsugar components for Z. It should be understood that it is by no meansintended to exclude other suitable raw materials. Z preferably will beselected from the group consisting of —CH₂—(CHOH)_(n)—CH₂OH,CH(CH₂OH)—(CHOH)_(n−1)—CH₂OH, —CH₂—(CHOH)₂(CHOR′)(CHOH)—CH₂OH, where nis an integer from 3 to 5, inclusive, and R′ is H or a cyclic oraliphatic monosaccharide, and alkoxylated derivatives thereof. Mostpreferred are glycityls wherein n is 4, particularly —CH₂—(CHOH)₄—CH₂OH.

In Formula (I), R¹ can be, for example, N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl,N-isopropyl, N-butyl, N-2-hydroxy ethyl, or N-2-hydroxy propyl.

R²—CO—N< can be, for example, cocamide, stearamide, oleamide, lauramide,myristamide, capricamide, palmitamide, tallowamide, etc.

Z can be 1-deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructityl, 1-deoxymaltityl,1-deoxylactityl, 1-deoxygalactityl, 1-deoxymannityl,1-deoxymaltotriotityl, etc.

In one embodiment herein suitable nonionic surfactants to be used arepolyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols, condensation productsof primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about25 moles of ethyelene oxide, alkylpolysaccharides, and mixtures thereof.Most preferred are C₈-C₁₄ alkyl phenol ethoxylates having from 3 to 15ethoxy groups and C₈-C₁₈ alcohol ethoxylates (preferably C₁₀ avg.)having from 2 to 10 ethoxy groups, and mixtures thereof.

Particularly preferred surfactants include also the anionic surfactants.Suitable anionic surfactants for use herein include alkali metal (e.g.,sodium or potassium) fatty acids, or soaps thereof, containing fromabout 8 to about 24, preferably from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms.

The fatty acids including those used in making the soaps can be obtainedfrom natural sources such as, for instance, plant or animal-derivedglycerides (e.g., palm oil, coconut oil, babassu oil, soybean oil,castor oil, tallow, whale oil, fish oil, tallow, grease, lard andmixtures thereof). The fatty acids can also be synthetically prepared(e.g., by oxidation of petroleum stocks or by the Fischer-Tropschprocess).

Alkali metal soaps can be made by direct saponification of fats and oilsor by the neutralization of the free fatty acids which are prepared in aseparate manufacturing process. Particularly useful are the sodium andpotassium salts of the mixtures of fatty acids derived from coconut oiland tallow, i.e. sodium and potassium tallow and coconut soaps.

The term “tallow” is used herein in connection with fatty acid mixtureswhich typically have an approximate carbon chain length distribution of2.5% C14, 29% C16, 23% C18, 2% palmitoleic, 41.5% oleic and 3% linoleic(the first three fatty acids listed are saturated). Other mixtures withsimilar distribution, such as the fatty acids derived from variousanimal tallows and lard, are also included within the term tallow. Thetallow can also be hardened (i.e., hydrogenated) to convert part or allof the unsaturated fatty acid moieties to saturated fatty acid moieties.

When the term “coconut” is used herein it refers to fatty acid mixtureswhich typically have an approximate carbon chain length distribution ofabout 8% C8, 7% C10, 48% C12, 17% C14, 9% C16, 2% C18, 7% oleic, and 2%linoleic (the first six fatty acids listed being saturated). Othersources having similar carbon chain length distribution such as palmkernel oil and babassu oil are included with the term coconut oil.

Other suitable anionic surfactants for use herein include water-solublesalts, particularly the alkali metal salts, of organic sulfuric reactionproducts having in the molecular structure an alkyl radical containingfrom about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and a radical selected from thegroup consisting of sulfonic acid and sulfuric acid ester radicals.Important examples of these synthetic detergents are the sodium,ammonium or potassium alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained bysulfating the higher alcohols produced by reducing the glycerides oftallow or coconut oil; sodium or potassium alkyl benzene sulfonates, inwhich the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms,especially those of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,220,099 and2,477,383, incorporated herein by reference; sodium alkyl glyceryl ethersulfonates, especially those ethers of the higher alcohols derived fromtallow and coconut oil; sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceridesulfates and sulfonates: sodium or potassium salts of sulfuric acidesters of the reaction product of one mole of a higher fatty alcohol(e.g., tallow or coconut oil alcohols) and about three moles of ethyleneoxide; sodium or potassium salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ethersulfates with about four units of ethylene oxide per molecule and inwhich the alkyl radicals contain about 9 carbon atoms; the reactionproduct of fatty acids esterified with isothionic acid and neutralizedwith sodium hydroxide where, for example, the fatty acids are derivedfrom coconut oil; sodium or potassium salts of fatty acid amide of amethyl taurine in which the fatty acids, for example, are derived fromcoconut oil; and others known in the art, a number being specificallyset forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,486,921, 2,486,922 and 2,396,278,incorporated herein by reference.

Suitable zwitterionic detergents to be used herein comprise the betaineand betaine-like detergents wherein the molecule contains both basic andacidic groups which form an inner salt giving the molecule both cationicand anionic hydrophilic groups over a broad range of pH values. Somecommon examples of these detergents are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.2,082,275, 2,702,279 and 2,255,082, incorporated herein by reference.Preferred zwitterionic detergent compounds have the formula:

wherein R₁ is an alkyl radical containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms,R2and R3 contain from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R4 is an alkylene chaincontaining from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, X is selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen and a hydroxyl radical, Y is selected from thegroup consisting of carboxyl and sulfonyl radicals and wherein the sumof R1, R₂and R3 radicals is from 14 to 24 carbon atoms.

Amphoteric and ampholytic detergents which can be either cationic oranionic depending upon the pH of the system are represented bydetergents such as dodecylbeta-alanine, N-alkyltaurines such as the oneprepared by reacting dodecylamine with sodium isethionate according tothe teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 2,658,072, N-higher alkylaspartic acidssuch as those produced according to the teaching of U.S. Pat. No.2,438,091, and the products sold under the trade name “Miranol”, anddescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,528,378, said patents being incorporatedherein by reference.

Additional synthetic detergents and listings of their commercial sourcescan be found in McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers, North AmericanEd. 1980, incorporated herein by reference.

Suitable amphoteric surfactants include the amine oxides correspondingto the formula:

R R′R″N→O

wherein R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons, preferably10-18 carbons, and wherein R′ and R″ are, each, independently, an alkylgroup containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The arrow in the formula is aconventional representation of a semi-polar bond. The preferred amineoxides are those in which the primary alkyl group has a straight chainin at least most of the molecules, generally at least 70%, preferably atleast 90% of the molecules, and the amine oxides which are especiallypreferred are those in which R contains 10-18 carbons and R′ and R″ areboth methyl. Exemplary of the preferred amine oxides are theN-hexyldimethylamine oxide, N-octyldimethylamine oxide,N-decyidimethylamine oxide, N-dodecyldimethylamine oxide,N-tetradecyldimethylamine oxide, N-hexadecyldimethylamine oxide,N-octadecyidimethylamine oxide, N-eicosyldimethylamine oxide,N-docosyldimethylamine oxide, N-tetracosyl dimethylamine oxide, thecorresponding amine oxides in which one or both of the methyl groups arereplaced with ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl groups and mixtures thereof. Amost preferred amine oxide for use herein is N-decyldimethylamine oxide.

Other suitable amphoteric surfactants for the purpose of the inventionare the phosphine or sulfoxide surfactants of formula:

R R′R″A→O

wherein A is phosphorus or sulfur atom, R is a primary alkyl groupcontaining 6-24 carbons, preferably 10-18 carbons, and wherein R′ and R″are, each, independently selected from methyl, ethyl and 2-hydroxyethyl.The arrow in the formula is a conventional representation of asemi-polar bond.

Cationic surfactants suitable for use in compositions of the presentinvention are those having a long-chain hydrocarbyl group. Examples ofsuch cationic surfactants include the ammonium surfactants such asalkyldimethylammonium halogenides, and those surfactants having theformula:

[R²(OR³)_(y)][R⁴(OR³)_(y)]₂R⁵N⁺X⁻

wherein R² is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from 8 to 18 carbonatoms in the alkyl chain, each R³ is selected from the group consistingof —CH₂CH₂—,—CH₂CH(CH₃)—, —CH₂CH(CH₂OH)—, —CH₂CH₂CH₂—, and mixturesthereof; each R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₄ alkyl,C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, benzyl ring structures formed by joining the two R⁴groups, CH₂CHOH—CHOHCOR⁶CHOHCH₂OH wherein R⁶ is any hexose or hexosepolymer having a molecular weight less than about 1000, and hydrogenwhen y is not 0; R⁵ is the same as R⁴ or is an alkyl chain wherein thetotal number of carbon atoms of R² plus R⁵ is not more than about 18;each y is from 0 to about 10 and the sum of the y values is from 0 toabout 15; and X is any compatible anion.

Other cationic surfactants useful herein are also described in U.S. Pat.No. 4,228,044, Cambre, issued Oct. 14, 1980, incorporated herein byreference.

The compositions of the present invention may also include avinylpyrrolidone homopolymer or copolymer or a mixture thereof. Thecompositions of the present invention comprise up to 20% by weight ofthe total composition of a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer or copolymer ora mixture thereof, preferably from 0.01% to 10%, more preferably from0.1% to 5% and most preferably from 0.2% to 2%.

Suitable vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers to be used herein is anhomopolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone having the following repeatingmonomer:

wherein n (degree of polymerisation) is an integer of from 10 to1,000,000, preferably from 20 to 100,000, and more preferably from 20 to10,000.

Accordingly, suitable vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers (“PVP”) for useherein have an average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 100,000,000,preferably from 2,000 to 10,000,000, more preferably from 5,000 to1,000,000, and most preferably from 50,000 to 500,000.

Suitable vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers are commercially available fromISP Corporation, New York, N.Y. and Montreal, Canada under the productnames PVP K-15 (viscosity molecular weight of 10,000), PVP K-30 (averagemolecular weight of 40,000), PVP K-60 (average molecular weight of160,000), and PVP K-90 (average molecular weight of 360,000). Othersuitable vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers which are commercially availablefrom BASF Cooperation include

Sokalan HP 165 and Sokalan HP 12; vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers known topersons skilled in the detergent field (see for example EP-A-262,897 andEP-A256,696).

Suitable copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone for use herein includecopolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and alkylenically unsaturated monomersor mixtures thereof.

Alkylenically unsaturated monomers which may be used to prepare thecopolymers include unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as maleic acid,chloromaleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid,phenylmaleic acid, aconitic acid, acrylic acid, N-vinylimidazole andvinyl acetate. Any of the anhydrides of the unsaturated acids may beemployed, for example methacrylate. Aromatic monomers like styrene,sulphonated styrene, alphamethyl styrene, vinyl toluene, t-butyl styreneand similar well known monomers may be used.

The molecular weight of the copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone is notespecially critical so long as the copolymer is water-soluble, has somesurface activity and is adsorbed to the hard-surface from the liquidcomposition or solution (i.e. under dilute usage conditions) comprisingit in such a manner as to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface.However, the preferred copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone andalkylenically unsaturated monomers or mixtures thereof, have a molecularweight of between 1,000 and 1,000,000, preferably between 10,000 and500,000 and more preferably between 10,000 and 200,000.

For example, particularly suitable N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidonepolymers for use herein have an average molecular weight range from5,000-1,000,000, preferably from 5,000 to 500,000, and more preferablyfrom 10,000 to 200,000. The average molecular weight range wasdetermined by light scattering as described in Barth H. G. and Mays J.W. Chemical Analysis Vol 113, “Modern Methods of PolymerCharacterization”.

Such copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and alkylenically unsaturatedmonomers like PVP/vinyl acetate copolymers are commercially availableunder the trade name Luviskol® series from BASF.

Particular preferred copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone for use in thecompositions of the present invention are quaternized or unquaternizedvinylpyrrolidone/dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate or methacrylate copolymers.

The vinylpyrrolidone/dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate or methacrylatecopolymers (quaternised or unquaternised) suitable to be used in thecompositions of the present invention are according to the followingformula:

in which n is between 20 and 99 and preferably between 40 and 90 mol %and m is between 1 and 80 and preferably between 5 and 40 mol %; R₁represents H or CH₃; y denotes 0 or 1; R₂ is —CH₂—CHOH—CH₂— orC_(x)H_(2x), in which x=2 to 18; R₃ represents a lower alkyl group offrom 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably methyl or ethyl, or

R₄ denotes a lower alkyl group of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferablymethyl or ethyl; X⁻ is chosen from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I,1/2SO₄, HSO₄ and CH₃SO₃. The polymers can be prepared by the processdescribed in French Pat. Nos. 2,077,143 and 2,393,573.

The preferred quaternized or unquaternizedvinylpyrrolidone/dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate or methacrylate copolymersfor use herein have a molecular weight of between 1,000 and 1,000,000,preferably between 10,000 and 500,000 and more preferably between 10,000and 100,000.

Such vinylpyrrolidone/dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate or methacrylatecopolymers are commercially available under the name copolymer 845®,Gafquat 734®, or Gafquat 755® from ISP Corporation, New York, N.Y. andMontreal, Canada or from BASF under the tradename Luviquat®.

Most preferred herein is quaternized copolymers of vinyl pryrrolidoneand dimethyl aminoethymethacrylate (polyquaternium-11) available fromBASF.

These vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers and/or copolymers contribute to thebenefit of the compositions of the present invention, i.e. they helpimproving the next-time cleaning performance, but also the first timecleaning performance.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment the composition of the present inventionfurther comprise a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer and/or copolymer on topof said dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol. More particularly, it hassurprisingly been found that there is a synergistic effect on next-timecleaning performance associated with the use of a dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycol together with a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymerand/or copolymer.

The liquid compositions of the present invention may further compriseother antiresoiling ingredients like a polyalkoxylene glycol accordingto the formula H—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—H, and/or a monocapped polyalkoxyleneglycol of the formula R₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—H, wherein the substituent R₁is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear orbranched hydrocarbon chain having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or an aminobearing linear or branched. substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbonchain having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, R₂ is hydrogen or a linear orbranched hydrocarbon chain having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and whereinn is an integer greater than 0.

Preferably R₁ is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated orunsaturated, linear or branched alkyl group, alkenyl group or aryl grouphaving from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 16, morepreferably from 1 to 8 and most preferably from 1 to 4, or an aminobearing linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group,alkenyl group or aryl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, morepreferably from 1 to 16, even more preferably from 1 to 8 and mostpreferably from 1 to 4. Preferably R₂ is hydrogen, or a linear orbranched alkyl group, alkenyl group or aryl group having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, more preferably from 1 to 16, even more preferably from 1to 8, and most preferably R₂ is methyl, or hydrogen. Preferably n is aninteger from 5 to 1000, more preferably from 10 to 100, even morepreferably from 20 to 60 and most preferably from 30 to 50.

The compositions of the present invention may comprise up to 20% byweight of the total composition of said polyalkoxylene glycols and/ormonocapped polyalkoxylene glycols on top of said dicapped polyalkoxyleneglycols, preferably from 0.01% to 10%, more preferably from 0.1% to 5%.

Suitable monocapped polyalkoxylene glycols to be used herein include2-aminopropyl polyethylene glycol (MW 2000), methyl polyethylene glycol(MW 1800) and the like. Such monocapped polyalkoxylene glycols may becommercially available from Hoescht under the polyglycol series orHunstman under the tradename XTJ®. Preferred polyalkoxylene glycols tobe used herein are polyethylene glycols like polyethylene glycol (MW2000).

The compositions herein may further comprise other polymeric compounds,up to a level of 20% by weight of the total composition, preferably0.01% to 5%, like carboxylate-containing polymer, or mixtures thereof.

By “carboxylate-containing polymer”, it is meant herein a polymer orcopolymer comprising at least a monomeric unit, which contains at leasta carboxylate functionality. Any carboxylate-containing polymer known tothose skilled in the art can be employed according to the presentinvention such as homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylic acids or theirsalts including polyacrylates and polymers and copolymers of maleicanhydride or/and acrylic acid and the like, or mixtures thereof. Indeed,such carboxylate-containing polymers can be prepared by polymerizing orcopolymerizing suitable unsaturated monomers, preferably in their acidform. Unsaturated monomeric acids that can be polymerized to formsuitable polymeric polycarboxylates include acrylic acid, maleic acid(or maleic anhydride), fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid,mesaconic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid. The presencein the polymeric polycarboxylates herein of monomeric segments,containing no carboxylate radicals such as vinylmethyl ether, styrene,ethylene, etc. is suitable.

Particularly Suitable polymeric polycarboxylates can be derived fromacrylic acid. Such acrylic acid-based polymers which are useful hereinare the water-soluble salts of polymerized acrylic acid. The averagemolecular weight of such polymers in the acid form preferably rangesfrom about 2,000 to 1,000,000, more preferably from about 10,000 to150,000 and most preferably from about 20,000 to 100,000. Water-solublesalts of such acrylic acid polymers can include, for example, the alkalimetal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts. Soluble polymers of thistype are known materials. Use of polyacrylates of this type in detergentcompositions has been disclosed, for example, in Diehl, U.S. Pat. No.3,308,067, issued Mar. 7, 1967.

Acrylic/maleic-based copolymers may also be used as a preferredcarboxylate-containing polymer. Such materials include the water-solublesalts of copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid. The averagemolecular weight of such copolymers in the acid form preferably rangesfrom about 2,000 to 100,000, more preferably from about 5,000 to 75,000,most preferably from about 7,000 to 65,000. The ratio of acrylate tomaleate segments in such copolymers will generally range from about 30:1to about 1:1, more preferably from about 10:1 to 2:1. Water-solublesalts of such acrylic acid/maleic acid copolymers can include, forexample, the alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts.Soluble acrylate/maleate copolymers of this type are known materialswhich are described in European Patent Application No. 66915, publishedDec. 15, 1982. Particularly preferred is a copolymer of maleic/acrylicacid with an average molecular weight of about 70,000. Such copolymersare commercially available from BASF under the trade name SOKALAN CP5.

Other suitable carboxylate-containing polymers to be used herein includecellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose. For examplecarboxymethylcellulose may be used as a salt with conventional cationsuch as sodium, potassium, amines or substituted amines.

The compositions according to the present invention may further comprisea divalent counterion, or mixtures thereof. All divalent ions known tothose skilled in the art may be used herein. Preferred divalent ions tobe used herein are calcium, zinc, cadmium, nickel, copper, cobalt,zirconium, chromium and/or magnesium and more preferred are calcium,zinc and/or magnesium. Said divalent ions may be added in the form ofsalts for example as chloride, acetate, sulphate, formate and/or nitrateor as a complex metal salt. For example, calcium may be added in theform of calcium chloride. magnesium as magnesium acetate or magnesiumsulphate and zinc as zinc chloride.

In one embodiment of the present invention said carboxylate-containingpolymer and said divalent counterion may be added as one ingredientprovided that the molar ratio of said carboxylate-containing polymer tosaid divalent counterion/salt is from 12:1 to 1:32.

In the embodiment herein wherein said carboxylic-containing polymer andsaid divalent counterion are present in the compositions herein they arepreferably present at a molar ratio of said polymer to said divalentcounterion of from 12:1 to 1:32, more preferably of from 8:1 to 1.16,and most preferably of from 4:1 to 1:6. Preferred molar ratios of saidpolymer to said divalent counterion are those where excellent gloss isobtained in the most economic way.

The liquid compositions of the present invention may also comprises abuilder or a mixture thereof, as an optional ingredeint. Suitablebuilders for use herein include polycarboxylates and polyphosphates, andsalts thereof. Typically, the compositions of the present inventioncomprise up to 20% by weight of the total composition of a builder ormixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 10%, and more preferably from0.5% to 5%.

Suitable and preferred polycarboxylates for use herein are organicpolycarboxylates where the highest LogKa, measured at 25° C./0.1M ionicstrength is between 3 and 8, wherein the sum of the LogKCa+LogKMg,measured at 25° C./0.1M ionic strength is higher than 4, and whereinLogKCa=LogKMg±2 units, measured at 25° C./0.1M ionic strength.

Such suitable and preferred polycarboxylates include citrate andcomplexes of the formula:

CH(A)(COOX)—CH(COOX)—O—CH(COOX)—CH(COOX)(B)

wherein A is H or OH; B is H or —O—CH(COOX)—CH₂(COOX); and X is H or asalt-forming cation. For example, if in the above general formula A andB are both H, then the compound is oxydissuccinic acid and itswater-soluble salts. If A is OH and B is H, then the compound istartrate monosuccinic acid (TMS) and its water-soluble salts. If A is Hand B is —O—CH(COOX)—CH₂(COOX), then the compound is tartrate disuccinicacid (TDS) and its water-soluble salts. Mixtures of these builders areespecially preferred for use herein. Particularly TMS to TDS, thesebuilders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,071, issued to Bush etal., on May 5, 1987.

Still other ether polycarboxylates suitable for use herein includecopolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene or vinyl methyl ether,1,3,5-trihydroxy benzene-2,4,6-trisulfonic acid, andcarboxymethyloxysuccinic acid.

Other useful polycarboxylate builders include the etherhydroxypolycarboxylates represented by the structure:

 HO—[C(R)(COOM)—C(R)(COOM)—O]_(n)—H

wherein M is hydrogen or a cation wherein the resultant salt iswater-soluble, preferably an alkali metal, ammonium or substitutedammonium cation, n is from about 2 to about 15 (preferably n is fromabout 2 to about 10, more preferably n averages from about 2 to about 4)and each R is the same or different and selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄ substituted alkyl (preferably R is hydrogen).

Suitable ether polycarboxylates also include cyclic compounds,particularly alicyclic compounds, such as those described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,923,679; 3,835,163; 4,158,635; 4,120,874 and 4,102,903, all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

Preferred amongst those cyclic compounds are dipicolinic acid andchelidanic acid.

Also suitable polycarboxylates for use herein are mellitic acid,succinic acid, polymaleic acid, benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid,benezene pentacarboxylic acid, and carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, andsoluble salts thereof.

Still suitable carboxylate builders herein include the carboxylatedcarbohydrates disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,322, Diehl, issued Mar.28, 1973, incorporated herein by reference.

Other suitable carboxylates for use herein, but which are less preferredbecause they do not meet the above criteria are alkali metal, ammoniumand substituted ammonium salts of polyacetic acids. Examples ofpolyacetic acid builder salts are sodium, potassium, lithium, ammoniumand substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediamine, tetraacetic acid andnitrilotriacetic acid.

Other suitable, but less preferred polycarboxylates are those also knownas alkyliminoacetic builders, such as methyl imino diacetic acid,alanine diacetic acid, methyl glycine diacetic acid, hydroxy propyleneimino diacetic acid and other alkyl imino acetic acid builders.

Also suitable in the compositions of the present invention are the3,3-dicarboxy-4-oxa-1,6-hexanediotes and the related compounds disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,984, Bush, issued Jan. 28, 1986, incorporatedherein by reference. Useful succinic acid builders include the C5-C20alkyl succinic acids and salts thereof. A particularly preferredcompound of this type is dodecenylsuccinic acid. Alkyl succinic acidstypically are of the general formula R—CH(COOH)CH₂(COOH) i.e.,derivatives of succinic acid, wherein R is hydrocarbon, e.g., C₁₀-C₂₀alkyl or alkenyl, preferably C₁₂-C₁₆ or wherein R may be substitutedwith hydroxyl, sulfo, sulfoxy or sulfone substituents, all as describedin the above-mentioned patents.

The succinate builders are preferably used in the form of theirwater-soluble salts, including the sodium, potassium, ammonium andalkanolammonium salts.

Specific examples of succinate builders include laurylsuccinate,myristylsuccinate, palmitylsuccinate, 2-dodecenylsuccinate (preferred),2-pentadecenylsuccinate, and the like. Laurylsuccinates are thepreferred builders of this group, and are described in European PatentApplication 86200690.5/0 200 263, published Nov. 5, 1986.

Examples of useful builders also include sodium and potassiumcarboxymethyloxymalonate, carboxymethyloxysuccinate,cis-cyclohexanehexacarboxylate, cis-cyclopentane-tetracarboxylate,water-soluble polyacrylates and the copolymers of maleic anhydride withvinyl methyl ether or ethylene.

Other suitable polycarboxylates are the polyacetal carboxylatesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,226, Crutchfield et al., issued Mar.13, 1979, incorporated herein by reference. These polyacetalcarboxylates can be prepared by bringing together, under polymerizationconditions, an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polyerization initiator.The resulting polyacetal carboxylate ester is then attached tochemically stable end groups to stabilize the polyacetal carboxylateagainst rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution, converted to thecorresponding salt, and added to a surfactant.

Polycarboxylate builders are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,067,Diehl, issued Mar. 7, 1967, incorporated herein by reference. Suchmaterials include the water-soluble salts of homo- and copolymers ofaliphatic carboxylic acids such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconicacid, fumaric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonicacid.

Suitable polyphosphonates for use herein are the alkali metal, ammoniumand alkanolammonium salts of polyphosphates (exemplified by thetripolyphosphates, pyrophosphates, and glassy polymericmeta-phosphates), phosphonates. The most preferred builder for useherein is citrate.

Suitable perfumes to be used herein include materials which provide anolfactory aesthetic benefit and/or cover any “chemical” odor that theproduct may have. The main function of a small fraction of the highlyvolatile, low boiling (having low boiling points), perfume components inthese perfumes is to improve the fragrance odor of the product itself,rather than impacting on the subsequent odor of the surface beingcleaned. However, some of the less volatile, high boiling perfumeingredients provide a fresh and clean impression to the surfaces, and itis desirable that these ingredients be deposited and present on the drysurface. Perfume ingredients can be readily solubilized in thecompositions, for instance by the nonionic detergent surfactants.

The perfume ingredients and compositions suitable to be used herein arethe conventional ones known in the art. Selection of any perfumecomponent, or amount of perfume, is based solely on aestheticconsiderations.

Suitable perfume compounds and compositions can be found in the artincluding U.S. Pat. No.: 4,145,184, Brain and Cummins, issued Mar. 20,1979. U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,417, Whyte, issued Jun. 24, 1980; U.S. Pat.No. 4,515,705, Moeddel, issued May 7, 1985; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,272,Young, issued May 1, 1979, all of said patents being incorporated hereinby reference.

In general, the degree of substantivity of a perfume is roughlyproportional to the percentages of substantive perfume material used.Relatively substantive perfumes contain at least about 1%, preferably atleast about 10%, substantive perfume materials.

Substantive perfume materials are those odorous compounds that depositon surfaces via the cleaning process and are detectable by people withnormal olfactory acuity. Such materials typically have vapor pressureslower than that of the average perfume material. Also, they typicallyhave molecular weights of about 200 and above, and are detectable atlevels below those of the average perfume material.

Perfume ingredients useful herein, along with their odor character, andtheir physical and chemical properties, such as boiling point andmolecular weight, are given in “Perfume and Flavor Chemicals (AromaChemicals),” Steffen Arctander, published by the author, 1969,incorporated herein by reference.

Examples of the highly volatile, low boiling, perfume ingredients are:anethole, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl formate,iso-bornyl acetate, camphene, ciscitral (neral), citronellal,citronellol, citronellyl acetate, para-cymene, decanal, dihydrolinalool,dihydromyrcenol, dimethyl phenyl carbinol, eucaliptol, geranial,geraniol, geranyl acetate, geranyl nitrile, cis-3-hexenyl acetate,hydroxycitronellal, d-limonene, linalool, linalool oxide, linalylacetate, linalyl propionate, methyl anthranilate, alpha-methyl ionone,methyl nonyl acetaldehyde, methyl phenyl carbinyl acetate, laevo-menthylacetate, menthone, iso-menthone, mycrene, myrcenyl acetate, myrcenol,nerol, neryl acetate, nonyl acetate, phenyl ethyl alcohol, alpha-pinene,beta-pinene, gamma-terpinene, alpha-terpineol, beta-terpineol, terpinylacetate, and vertenex (paratertiary-butyl cyclohexyl acetate). Somenatural oils also contain large percentages of highly volatile perfumeingredients. For example, lavandin contains as major components:linalool; linalyl acetate; geraniol; and citronellol. Lemon oil andorange terpenes both contain about 95% of d-limonene.

Examples of moderately volatile perfume ingredients are: amyl cinnamicaldehyde, iso-amyl salicylate, beta-caryophyllene, cedrene, cinnamicalcohol, coumarin, dimethyl benzyl carbinyl acetate, ethyl vanillin,eugenol, iso-eugenol, flor acetate, heliotropine, 3-cis-hexenylsalicylate, hexyl salicylate, lilial (paratertiarybutyl-alpha-methylhydrocinnamic aldehyde), gamma-methyl ionone, nerolidol, patchoulialcohol, phenyl hexanol, beta-selinene, trichloromethyl phenyl carbinylacetate, triethyl citrate, vanillin, and veratraldehyde. Cedarwoodterpenes are composed mainly of alpha-cedrene, beta-cedrene, and otherC15H24 sesquiterpenes.

Examples of the less volatile, high boiling, perfume ingredients are:benzophenone, benzyl salicylate, ethylene brassylate, galaxolide(1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta-gama-2-benzopyran),hexyl cinnamic aldehyde, lyral (4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-10-carboxaldehyde), methyl cedrylone, methyldihydro jasmonate, methyl-betanaphthyl ketone, musk indanone, muskketone, musk tibetene, and phenylethyl phenyl acetate.

Selection of any particular perfume ingredient is primarily dictated byaesthetic considerations.

The liquid compositions herein may comprise a perfume ingredient, ormixtures thereof, in amounts up to 5.0% by weight of the totalcomposition, preferably in amounts of 0.1% to 1.5%.

Another class of optional compounds to be used herein include chelatingagents or mixtures thereof.

Chelating agents can be incorporated in the compositions herein inamounts ranging from 0.0% to 10.0% by weight of the total composition,preferably 0.1% to 5.0%.

Suitable phosphonate chelating agents to be used herein may includealkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy diphosphonates (HEDP), alkylene poly(alkylene phosphonate), as well as amino phosphonate compounds,including amino aminotri(methylene phosphonic acid) (ATMP), nitrilotrimethylene phosphonates (NTP), ethylene diamine tetra methylenephosphonates, and diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates(DTPMP). The phosphonate compounds may be present either in their acidform or as salts of different cations on some or all of their acidfunctionalities. Preferred phosphonate chelating agents to be usedherein are diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonate (DTPMP) andethane 1-hydroxy diphosphonate (HEDP). Such phosphonate chelating agentsare commercially available from Monsanto under the trade name DEQUEST®.

Polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents may also beuseful in the compositions herein. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,044, issuedMay 21, 1974, to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acidform are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.

A preferred biodegradable chelating agent for use herein is ethylenediamine N,N′-disuccinic acid, or alkali metal, or alkaline earth,ammonium or substitutes ammonium salts thereof or mixtures thereof.Ethylenediamine N,N′-disuccinic acids, especially the (S,S) isomer havebeen extensively described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,233, Nov. 3, 1987, toHartman and Perkins. Ethylenediamine N,N′-disuccinic acids is, forinstance, commercially available under the tradename ssEDDS® from PalmerResearch Laboratories.

Suitable amino carboxylates to be used herein include ethylene diaminetetra acetates, diethylene triamine pentaacetates, diethylene triaminepentaacetate (DTPA), N-hydroxyethylethylenediamine triacetates,nitrilotri-acetates, ethylenediamine tetrapropionates,triethylenetetraaminehexa-acetates, ethanol-diglycines, propylenediamine tetracetic acid (PDTA) and methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA),both in their acid form, or in their alkali metal, ammonium, andsubstituted ammonium salt forms. Particularly suitable aminocarboxylates to be used herein are diethylene triamine penta aceticacid, propylene diamine tetracetic acid (PDTA) which is, for instance,commercially available from BASF under the trade name Trilon FS® andmethyl glycine di-acetic acid (MGDA).

Further carboxylate chelating agents to be used herein include salicylicacid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, malonic acid or mixturesthereof.

The compositions according to the present invention may further comprisea sud controlling agent such as 2-alkyl alkanol, or mixtures thereof, asa preferred optional ingredient. Particularly suitable to be used in thepresent invention are the 2-alkyl alkanols having an alkyl chaincomprising from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 12 and aterminal hydroxy group, said alkyl chain being substituted in the αposition by an alkyl chain comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms,preferably from 2 to 8 and more preferably 3 to 6. Such suitablecompounds are commercially available, for instance, in the Isofol®series such as Isofol® 12 (2-butyl octanol) or Isofol® 16 (2-hexyldecanol). Typically, the compositions herein may comprise up to 2% byweight of the total composition of a 2-alkyl alkanol, or mixturesthereof, preferably from 0.1% to 1.5% and most preferably from 0.1% to0.8%.

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise a solventor a mixture thereof. Solvents to be used herein include all those knownto the those skilled in the art of hard-surfaces cleaner compositions.Suitable solvents for use herein include ethers and diethers having from4 to 14 carbon atoms, preferably from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and morepreferably from 8 to 10 carbon atoms, glycols or alkoxylated glycols,alkoxylated aromatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, aliphatic branchedalcohols, alkoxylated aliphatic branched alcohols, alkoxylated linearC1-C5 alcohols, linear C1-C5 alcohols, C8-C14 alkyl and cycloalkylhydrocarbons and halohydrocarbons, C6-C16 glycol ethers and mixturesthereof.

Suitable glycols to be used herein are according to the formulaHO—CR1R2—OH wherein R1 and R2are independently H o r a C2-C10 saturatedor unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon chain and/or cyclic. Suitableglycols to be used herein are dodecaneglycol and/or propanediol.

Suitable alkoxylated glycols to be used herein are according to theformula R(A)n—R1—OH wherein R is H, OH, a linear saturated orunsaturated alkyl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 15and more preferably from 2 to 10, wherein R1 is H or a linear saturatedor unsaturated alkyl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to15 and more preferably from 2 to 10, and A is an alkoxy group preferablyethoxy, methoxy, and/or propoxy and n is from 1 to 5, preferably 1 to 2.Suitable alkoxylated glycols to be used herein are methoxy octadecanoland/or ethoxyethoxyethanol.

Suitable alkoxylated aromatic alcohols to be used herein are accordingto the formula R (A)_(n)—OH wherein R is an alkyl substituted ornon-alkyl substituted aryl group of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms,preferably from 2 to 15 and more preferably from 2 to 10, wherein A isan alkoxy group preferably butoxy, propoxy and/or ethoxy, and n is aninteger of from 1 to 5, preferably 1 to 2. Suitable alkoxylated aromaticalcohols are benzoxyethanol and/or benzoxypropanol.

Suitable aromatic alcohols to be used herein are according to theformula R—OH wherein R is an alkyl substituted or non-alkyl substitutedaryl group of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 15 andmore preferably from 1 to 10. For example a suitable aromatic alcohol tobe used herein is benzyl alcohol.

Suitable aliphatic branched alcohols to be used herein are according tothe formula R—OH wherein R is a branched saturated or unsaturated alkylgroup of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 15 and morepreferably from 5 to 12. Particularly suitable aliphatic branchedalcohols to be used herein include 2-ethylbutanol and/or2-methylbutanol.

Suitable alkoxylated aliphatic branched alcohols to be used herein areaccording to the formula R (A)_(n)—OH wherein R is a branched saturatedor unsaturated alkyl group of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from2 to 15 and more preferably from 5 to 12, wherein A is an alkoxy grouppreferably butoxy, propoxy and/or ethoxy, and n is an integer of from 1to 5, preferably 1 to 2. Suitable alkoxylated aliphatic branchedalcohols include 1-methylpropoxyethanol and/or 2-methylbutoxyethanol.

Suitable alkoxylated linear C1-C5 alcohols to be used herein areaccording to the formula R (A)_(n)—OH wherein R is a linear saturated orunsaturated alkyl group of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, preferably from 2to 4, wherein A is an alkoxy group preferably butoxy, propoxy and/orethoxy, and n is an integer of from 1 to 5, preferably 1 to 2. Suitablealkoxylated aliphatic linear C1-C5 alcohols are butoxy propoxy propanol(n-BPP), butoxyethanol, butoxypropanol, ethoxyethanol or mixturesthereof. Butoxy propoxy propanol is commercially available under thetrade name n-BPP® from Dow chemical.

Suitable linear C1-C5 alcohols to be used herein are according to theformula R—OH wherein R is a linear saturated or unsaturated alkyl groupof from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 4. Suitable linearC1-C5 alcohols are methanol, ethanol, propanol or mixtures thereof.

Other suitable solvents include butyl diglycol ether (BDGE),butyltriglycol ether, ter amilic alcohol and the like. Particularlypreferred solvents to be used herein are butoxy propoxy propanol, butyldiglycol ether, benzyl alcohol, butoxypropanol, ethanol, methanol,isopropanol and mixtures thereof.

Typically, the compositions of the present invention comprise up to 20%by weight of the total composition of a solvent or mixtures thereof,preferably from 0.5% to 10% by weight and more preferably from 1% to 8%.

The liquid compositions herein may also comprise a bleaching component.Any bleach known to those skilled in the art may be suitable to be usedherein including any peroxygen bleach as well as a clorine releasingcomponent.

Suitable peroxygen bleaches for use herein include hydrogen peroxide orsources thereof. As used herein a source of hydrogen peroxide refers toany compound which produces active oxygen when said compound is iscontact with water. Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxidefor use herein include percarbonates, performed percarbolic acids,persilicates, persulphates, perborates, organic and inorganic peroxidesand/or hydroperoxides.

Suitable chlorine releasing component for use herein is an alkali metalhypochlorite. Advantageously, the composition of the invention arestable in presence of this bleaching component. Although alkali metalhypochlorites are preferred, other hypochlorite compounds may also beused herein and can be selected from calcium and magnesium hypochlorite.A preferred alkali metal hypochlorite for use herein is sodiumhypochlorite.

The compositions of the present invention that comprise a peroxygenbleach may further comprise a bleach activator or mixtures thereof. By“bleach activator”, it is meant herein a compound which reacts withperoxygen bleach like hydrogen peroxide to form a peracid. The peracidthus formed constitutes the activated bleach. Suitable bleach activatorsto be used herein include those belonging to the class of esters,amides, imides, or anhydrides. Examples of suitable compounds of thistype are disclosed in British Patent GB 1 586 769 and GB 2 143 231 and amethod for their formation into a prilled form is described in EuropeanPublished Patent Application EP-A-62 523. Suitable examples of suchcompounds to be used herein are tetracetyl ethylene diamine (TAED),sodium 3,5,5 trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulphonate, diperoxydodecanoic acid as described for instance in U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,425 andnonylamide of peroxyadipic acid as described for instance in U.S. Pat.No. 4,259,201 and n-nonanoyloxybenzenesulphonate (NOBS). Also suitableare N-acyl caprolactams selected from the group consisting ofsubstituted or unsudstituted benzoyl caprolactam, octanoyl caprolactam,nonanoyl caprolactam, hexanoyl caprolactam, decanoyl caprolactam,undecenoyl caprolactam, formyl caprolactam, acetyl caprolactam,propanoyl caprolactam, butanoyl caprolactam pentanoyl caprolactam ormixtures thereof. A particular family of bleach activators of interestwas disclosed in EP 624 154, and particularly preferred in that familyis acetyl triethyl citrate (ATC). Acetyl triethyl citrate has theadvantage that it is enviromental-friendly as it eventually degradesinto citric acid and alcohol. Furthermore, acetyl triethyl citrate has agood hydrolytical stability in the product upon storage and it is anefficient bleach activator. Finally, it provides good building capacityto the composition.

Packaging form of the Compositions:

The compositions herein may be packaged in a variety of suitabledetergent packaging known to those skilled in the art. The liquidcompositions are preferably packaged in conventional detergent plasticbottles.

In one embodiment the compositions herein may be packaged in manuallyoperated spray dispensing containers, which are usually made ofsynthetic organic polymeric plastic materials. Accordingly, the presentinvention also encompasses liquid cleaning compositions of the inventionpackaged is a spray dispenser, preferably in a trigger spray dispenseror pump spray dispenser.

Indeed, said spray-type dispensers allow to uniformly apply to arelatively large area of a hand-surface to be cleaned the liquidcleaning compositions suitable for use according to the presentinvention. Such spray-type dispensers are particularly suitable to cleanvertical surfaces.

Suitable spray-type dispensers to be used according to the presentinvention include manually operated foam trigger-type dispensers soldfor example by Specialty Packaging Products, Inc. or ContinentalSprayers, Inc. These types of dispensers are disclosed, for instance, inU.S. Pat. No. 4,701,311 to Dunnining et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,973and U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,745 both to Focarracci. Particularly preferredto be used herein are spray-type dispensers such as T 8500® commerciallyavailable from Continental Spray International or T 8100® commerciallyavailable from Canyon, Northern Ireland. In such a dispenser the liquidcomposition is divided in fine liquid droplets resulting in a spray thatis directed onto the surface to be treated. Indeed, in such a spray-typedispenser the composition contained in the body of said dispenser isdirected through the spray-type dispenser head via energy communicatedto a pumping mechanism by the user as said user activates said pumpingmechanism. More particularly, in said spray-type dispenser head thecomposition is forced against an obstacle, e.g. a grid or a cone or thelike, thereby providing shocks to help atomise the liquid composition,i.e. to help the formation of liquid droplets.

The process of Cleaning a Hard-surface:

The present invention also encompasses a process of cleaning ahard-surface wherein a liquid composition comprising a comprise adicapped polyalkoxylene glycol according to the formula:

R₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—R₃

wherein the substituents R₁ and R₃ each independently are substituted orunsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbonchains having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or amino bearing linear orbranched, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chains having from 1to 30 carbon atoms, R₂ is hydrogen or a linear or branched hydrocarbonchain having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and wherein n is an integergreater than 0, with the proviso that when both the substituents R₁ andR₃ independently are substituted or unsubstituted, saturated orunsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to 30carbon atoms and R₂ is hydrogen or a linear or branched hydrocarbonchain having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, then n is greater than 20, iscontacted with said surface.

The features of the compositions used in the process of cleaning ahard-surface (optional ingredients, levels and so on) are as definedherein before.

By “hard-surfaces” it is meant herein any kind of surfaces typicallyfound in houses like kitchens, bathrooms, car interiors or exteriors,e.g., floors, walls, tiles, windows, sinks, showers, shower plastifiedcurtains, wash basins, WCs, dishes, fixtures and fittings and the likemade of different materials like ceramic, vinyl, no-wax vinyl, linoleum,melamine, glass, any plastics, plastified wood, metal or any painted orvarnished or sealed surface and the like. Hard-surfaces also includehousehold appliances including, but not limited to, refrigerators,freezers, washing machines, automatic dryers, ovens, microwave ovens,dishwashers and so on.

The liquid compositions of the present invention may be contacted withthe surface to be cleaned in its neat form or in its diluted form.

By “diluted form” it is meant herein that said liquid composition isdiluted by the user typically with water. The composition is dilutedprior use to a typical dilution level of 10 to 200 times its weight ofwater, preferably of 10 to 100. Usual recommended dilution level is a1.2% dilution of the composition in water.

In the preferred process of cleaning hard-surfaces according to thepresent invention where said composition is used in diluted form, thereis no need to rinse the surface after application of the composition inorder to obtain excellent first and next-time cleaning performance aswell as good surface appearance.

The present invention will be further illustrated by the followingexamples.

EXAMPLES

The following compositions were made by mixing the listed ingredients inthe listed proportions. All proportions are % by weight of the totalcomposition.

These compositions were used neat and diluted to clean hard-surfaceslike floors. Excellent next-time cleaning performance while deliveringalso good first time cleaning and good surface appearance to thesurfaces cleaned.

Compositions (weight %):

A B C D E F Nonionic surfactants C 9-11 EO5 — — 2.5 2.4 1.9 2.5 C12,14EO5 — — 2.5 3.6 2.9 2.5 C7-9 EO6 3.2 8 — — — — Dobanol ® 23-3 1.3 3.2 —— — — AO21 1.9 4.8 2.0 1.0 0.8 4.0 Anionic surfactants NaPS — 3.0 — — —— NaLAS 0.9 — 0.8 — — — NaCS 1.2 3.0 1.5 1.5 2.6 — C₈-AS 0.8 2.0 — — — —Isalchem ® AS — — — 0.6 0.6 — Buffer Na₂CO₃ 1.0 2.0 0.2 0.6 0.13 0.6Citrate — — 0.75 0.5 0.56 0.5 Caustic — — 0.5 0.3 0.33 0.3 Suds controlFatty Acid 0.4 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.3 0.5 Isofol 12 ® 0.3 — 0.3 0.3 0.3 —Polymers PEG DME-2000 ® 0.5 0.75 0.5 0.4 — 0.25 Jeffamine ® ED-2001 — —— — 0.5 — Polyglycol AM ® 1100 — — — — — — Water and minors up to 100%pH 10.75 10.75 9.5 9.5 7.4 9.5 G H I J K Nonionic surfactants C 9-11 EO5— 2.5 — 2.5 0.030 C12,14 EO5 2.5 2.5 — 2.5 0.030 C7-9 EO6 — — 3.2 — —Dobanol ® 23-3 — 1.3 — — AO21 2.0 1.9 4.0 0.024 Anionic surfactants NaPS— — — — — NaLAS 4.0 0.8 0.9 — 0.009 NaCS 2.3 1.5 1.2 — 0.018 C₈-AS — —0.8 — — Isalchem ® AS — — — — — Buffer Na₂CO₃ 1.0 0.1 1.0 0.6 0.002Citrate — 0.6 — 0.5 0.009 Caustic — 0.3 — 0.3 0.006 Suds control FattyAcid 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.005 Isofol 12 ® 0.3 0.3 0.3 — 0.004 Polymers PEGDME-2000 ® — 0.35 0.5 0.25 0.006 Jeffamine ® ED-2001 — — — — —Polyglycol AM ® 1100 0.5 — — — — Polyquat 11 ® — — 0.5 0.006 PVP K60 ® —— — 0.6 — Water and minors up to 100% pH 10.5 7.5 10.75 9.5 8.5

PEG DME-2000® is dimethyl polyethylene glycol (MW 2000) commerciallyavailable from Hoescht.

Polyglycol AM® 1100 is a dicapped polyethylene glycol (MW˜1100)commercially available from Hoechst.

Jeffamine® ED-2001 is a dicapped polyethylene glycol commerciallyavailable from Huntsman.

Isofol 12® is 2-butyl octanol

Dobanol® 23-3 is a C12-C13 EO 3 nonionic surfactant commerciallyavailable from SHELL.

C8-AS is octyl sulphate available from Albright and Wilson, under thetradename Empimin® LV 33.

AO21 is a C12-14 EO21 alcohol ethoxylate.

Isalchem® AS is a branched alcohol alkyl sulphate commercially availablefrom Enichem.

PVP K60® is a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (average molecular weight of160,000), commercially available from ISP Corporation, New York, N.Y.and Montreal, Canada.

Polyquat 11® is a quaternized copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone anddimethyl aminoethylmethacrylate commercially available from BASF.

What is claimed is:
 1. An aqueous liquid hard-surface cleaningcomposition having a pH of from about 7 to about 13, said compositioncomprising 0.1-2% by weight of a subs controlling agent and a dicappedpolyalkoxylene glycol of the formula: R₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—R₃, whereinthe substituents R₁ and R₃ each independently are substituted orunsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbonchains having from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, or amino bearinglinear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chainshaving from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, R₂ is hydrogen or a linearor branched hydrocarbon chain having from about 1 to about 30 carbonatoms, and wherein n is an integer greater than 0, with the proviso thatwhen both the substituents R₁ and R₃ independently are substituted orunsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbonchains having from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms and R₂ is hydrogenor a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain having from about 1 to about30 carbon atoms, then n is greater than
 20. 2. The composition accordingto claim 1 wherein said composition comprises from about 0.001% to about20% by weight of the total composition of a dicapped polyalkoxyleneglycol or mixture thereof.
 3. The composition according to claim 2wherein said composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 5% byweight of the total composition of a dicapped polyalkoxylene glycol ormixture thereof.
 4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein for saiddicapped polyalkoxylene glycol according to the formulaR₁—O—(CH₂—CHR₂O)_(n)—R₃, the substituents R₁ and R₃ each independentlyare substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear orbranched alkyl groups, alkenyl groups or aryl groups having from about 1to about 30 carbon atoms, or amino bearing linear or branched,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups, alkenyl groups or aryl groupshaving from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, R₂ is hydrogen, or alinear or branched alkyl group, alkenyl group or aryl group having fromabout 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, and n is an integer above
 20. 5. Thecomposition according to claim 1 wherein said dicapped polyalkoxyleneglycol is O,O′-bis(2-aminopropyl)polyethylene glycol (MW 2000),O,O′-bis(2-aminopropyl)polyethylene glycol (MW 400), O,O′-dimethylpolyethylene glycol (MW 2000), dimethyl polyethylene glycol (MW 2000),or a mixture thereof.
 6. The composition according to claim 1 whereinsaid composition is an aqueous liquid composition having a pH of fromabout 9 to about
 11. 7. A composition according claim 1 wherein saidcomposition further comprises a surfactant selected from the groupconsisting of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, zwitterionicsurfactants, amphoteric surfactants, cationic surfactants and mixturesthereof, at a level of from 0.1% to 50% of the total composition.
 8. Thecomposition according to claim 7 wherein said surfactant is present at alevel of from about 0.1% to about 20% of the total composition.
 9. Thecomposition according to claim 1 wherein said composition furthercomprises a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer or copolymer or a mixturethereof at a level up to about 20% by weight of the total composition.10. The composition according to claim 9 wherein said compositioncomprises said vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer or copolymer or a mixturethereof at a level from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the totalcomposition.
 11. A composition according to claim 9 wherein saidvinylpyrrolidone copolymer is a quaternized or unquaternizedvinylpyrrolidone/dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate or methacrylate according tothe following formula:

in which n is between about 20 and about 99 mol % and m is between about1 and about 80 mol %; R₁ represents H or CH₃; y denotes 0 or 1; R₂ is—CH₂—CHOH—CH₂— or C_(x)H_(2x), in which x=2 to 18; R₃ represents a loweralkyl group of from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, or

R₄ denotes a lower alkyl group of from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;X⁻ is chosen from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, 1/2SO₄, HSO₄ andCH₃SO₃.
 12. The composition according to claim 1 wherein saidcomposition further comprises at least an optional ingredient selectedfrom the group consisting of other polymers, perfumes, chelating agents,builders, solvents, buffers, bactericides, hydrotropes, colorants,stabilizers, radical scavengers, bleaches, bleach activators, enzymes,soil suspenders, dye transfer agents, brighteners, sud control agents,anti dusting agents, dispersants, dye transfer inhibitors, pigments,dyes and mixtures thereof.
 13. A process of cleaning a hard-surfacewherein a liquid composition according to claim 1 is contacted with saidsurface.
 14. A process of cleaning a hard-surface according to claim 13wherein said composition is contacted with said surface after havingbeen diluted with water.
 15. A process according to claim 14 whereinsaid surface is not rinsed after said composition has been contactedtherewith.